COVID-19 (coronavirus)
While the global burden of severe COVID-19 has declined due to widespread immunity from vaccination and prior infection, the disease continues to cause hospitalizations and deaths, particularly among groups at highest risk of severe COVID-19 disease: older adults, individuals with comorbidities, and immunocompromised people.
Pregnant women remain at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease in the Omicron era. SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes, such as intensive care unit admission, and pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth.
Five years of accumulated COVID-19 vaccine safety data continue to demonstrate that the currently available mRNA and protein subunit COVID-19 vaccines have an acceptable safety profile across age groups and risk categories. Serious adverse events remain rare relative to the more than 13 billion doses administered globally, and most reported adverse events are mild or moderate and transient, typically resolving within a few days.
Real-world evidence consistently shows that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing severe disease and death. Vaccines adapted to Omicron lineages continue to provide meaningful protection against severe outcomes. Routine periodic COVID-19 vaccination helps sustain this protection, as immunity declines relatively quickly within six months after vaccination or infection.
In March 2026, the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group Experts on Immunization (SAGE) updated its recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination:
Countries should consider routine COVID-19 vaccination for those groups at highest risk of severe COVID-19 disease:
- Oldest adults (age cut-off should be determined by countries – often it is 75 or 80 years).
- Older adults (age cut-off should be determined by countries – often it is 50 or 60 years) with significant comorbidities or severe obesity.
- Residents in care and long-term care facilities.
- Individuals aged ≥ 6 months who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
For these groups, whether unvaccinated or previously vaccinated > 6 months earlier, SAGE recommended at least one dose per year, preferably two doses administered six months apart, due to the waning of protection against severe COVID-19 disease by six months after the last dose. Cost-effectiveness and programmatic feasibility should be considered when determining the number of doses per year.
Countries may consider routine COVID-19 vaccination of additional groups based on the local context, cost-effectiveness, and programmatic feasibility:
- Older adults without significant comorbidities or severe obesity.
- Adults (not included in the older adult category), adolescents, and children with significant comorbidities or severe obesity.
- Health workers and other care providers.
For these groups, whether unvaccinated or previously vaccinated > 6 months earlier, SAGE recommended at least one dose per year.
- For pregnant women, whether unvaccinated or previously vaccinated > 6 months earlier, one COVID-19 vaccine dose during each pregnancy, at any stage, though ideally during the second trimester. The aim is to optimize protection against severe COVID-19 for the pregnant person, prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes, and protect the infant during the first months of life through maternal antibody transfer.
- Previously unvaccinated healthy children aged 6–23 months only if significant burden is documented in this age group; revaccination is not routinely recommended.
These recommendations are guiding the development of a WHO COVID-19 vaccines position paper, planned for publication in 2026.
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COVID-19 vaccination coverage
Countries are expected to report COVID-19 vaccination data annually through the electronic WHO-UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (eJRF), in line with reporting for other vaccines included in national immunization programmes. Data for the period January to December 2025 are currently being reported, with publication expected in 2026.
WHO’s COVID-19 vaccination dashboard provides data on the number of vaccine doses administered globally through December 2024. In addition, the analytic insight report below summarizes COVID-19 vaccine implementation, including coverage and national vaccination policies for the period January to December 2024.
WHO statement on composition of COVID-19 vaccines
While monovalent LP.8.1 is the latest WHO-recommended COVID-19 vaccine antigen in December 2025, vaccination should not be delayed in anticipation of access to LP.8.1 composition vaccines; previously recommended JN.1 lineage (JN.1 or KP.2) antigens remain suitable alternatives.